He has all the qualities of top Brazil goal stars Ronaldo and Romario, says GILBERTO SILVA

instinct to score goals. For me, the comparisons to Romario are stronger because of the way he comes alive in the penalty area.

“Ronaldo could be dangerous from anywhere on the pitch.

“Gabriel can be quiet for a long time. But if the defenders relax for a moment, then the ball is in the back of the net.”

Silva (right) stressed: “Brazil need a player like him. We have Neymar and Coutinho, but to have a striker who will score almost every time he gets a chance is a big quality at the World Cup.

“He will want to do well for Brazil, but he also has an extra motivation after the season he has had for City.

“Yes, he is a champion in England in his first full season with the club, but he suffered with injuries and he will have been frustrated about that.

“So he will have a big desire to show his quality in Russia.

“And it will also be important that he will go to the tournament very fresh because he missed a lot of time for City.”

Brazil kick-off against Switzerland in Rostov next Sunday in a group that also includes Serbia and Costa Rica. The South American giants were humbled 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals when they hosted the tournament four years ago.

And when they failed to get out of a group that included Peru, Ecuador and Haiti at the Copa America Centenario in the United States two years ago, a

■ BRYAN RUIZ admits it will be a lot tougher for Costa Rica to shock people in Russia as they did by coming within a penalty shootout of the semi-finals last time. Now at Sporting Lisbon, Ruiz (left), 32, said: “We know we aren’t going to catch anyone by surprise again. “We are in there with Brazil this time and it will be an honour going up against players such as Neymar. “You may think we are trying to get second place, but remember what happened last time. You never know.” decision was made to sack coach Dunga and replace him with Tite.

Silva, 41, who was a key part of Arsenal’s 2004 Invincibles, now runs a hotel and construction business in his hometown of Lagoa de Preta in south-east Brazil.

But he has recently taken steps to get back into football as an agent and helped broker Manchester United’s £19million capture of teenage Portuguese defender Diogo Dalot from Porto last week.

Silva has high hopes that Brazil can live up to all the hype.

He said: “What happened four years ago against Germany in Belo Horizonte was a big shock to the whole Brazilian nation.

“And then, to come home from the Copa America without progressing from the group was also very bad.

“But the team has found its confidence again – and there is a good balance now, with top strikers and defenders.”